More than forty thousand different surnames currently exist in the Czech Republic. In the fourteenth century, the first surnames appeared. Czech surnames in most cases were formed from the given name. The most common surnames that were formed in this way are the surnames Urban, Lukash, Urbanek, Lukashek and Kaspar. Several surnames were formed from famous name Jan. These are Yanak and Yanda, and Yandak, and Yanota.
Many Czechs feel very uncomfortable when their names are Vasek Sigmund, Vaclav Havel or Jakub Piotr, Ota Mihail and Mikulas Aleš. In this case, it is very difficult to guess where the surname is here, and where is the name of the person. Very often, Czech surnames directly depended on the type of activity that their carrier was engaged in. Czechs live in the world with the surname Kolardzh, which translates as a wheel craftsman, as well as Truglarzh, which translates as a carpenter. There is the surname Tesarzh, which means the profession of a carpenter, the surname Sklenarzh, which will be reinvented as a glazier. In the old days, one could often meet the surnames Bednarzh, which meant a cooper, the surname Kovarzh, which meant a blacksmith, and the surname Mlinarzh, a miller.
When the need arose for better identification of people, then, and for the most part, Czech surnames arose. The first similarities of surnames were a reflection of certain character traits, the appearance of their carrier. Such surnames were derisive and ironic, often offensive.
Such Czech surnames include the surname Zubaty - toothy, Halabala - a loafer, Nebal - careless and many others. they cannot be attributed to classic surnames, but rather can be attributed to nicknames or nicknames. They could change in one person throughout life. Father and son could have different surnames. Their surnames depended on appearance, occupation and typical features character. Over time, for more accurate registration of citizens, the feudal lords began to force subjects to constantly use their middle name. It was decided that they would be inherited middle names, which then became future surnames. Thanks to this, it has become possible to avoid confusion with various tax collections in the first place. Joseph II legalized the use of family surnames in 1780. The surnames of both rural and urban residents differed. This happened because in the cities the formation of surnames depended on the social stratum to which the bearers of the surname belonged, as well as on their place of residence.
For orientation on city streets in the 18th century, not the usual numbers were used, but certain names. There are many examples. These are the street "At two suns", the street "At the black Mother of God", the street "At the golden snake". This meant that if a person had the surname Vodslon, then he lived in a house called “At the Elephant”, the surname is translated as a person “from the elephant”. The difference between surnames ordinary people and nobles was pretty clear. So, from several different godnames consisted noble names, while they included both the surname and nicknames, which in most cases was the designation of the place of residence of the clan to which it belonged. Example: Jan Zizka from Trontsov or Kryshtof Garant from Polzhitse. Earlier than the most ordinary people, the names of the nobles began to be inherited. This can be understood, since it was in the interests of the nobility that the children of the nobles should have a family name that distinguishes them from other people, speaking of their noble origin.
The noble surname indicated the position in society of its bearer, and also spoke of the wealth of the family. The Czernikov family can be attributed to one of the oldest Czech noble families. (11th century) With the occupation of ordinary people, most often, their surname was also associated. The surname Tesarzh was carried by a carpenter, the surname Kozheshnik was worn by a mechanic, the peasant bore the surname Sedlak. The plowman was called Vorach, the laborer - Nadenik, the forester - Polesny, the footman - Lokay. The surnames of the villagers were closely connected with the size of the property of their bearer. A man named Pulpan was the happy owner of half of the field, while Laskin was the owner of the whole field. Bezzemek was a landless peasant. In the Czech Republic, there are surnames that are associated with the spiritual sphere of a person. They reflect his religion. The surname Krzhestyan belongs to a Christian. Surname Pogan - pagan. Mocking surnames have not bypassed the spiritual sphere either. For example, the surname Pikart was carried by a representative of the Czech brothers, who later became Protestants. So scolded representatives of non-Catholic religions. These include surnames that were borrowed from the Bible. Surnames were intended to express a certain property specific person. The surname Sodomka originated from the name of the biblical city of Sodom. this city, as we know from the bible, was destroyed by God because of the sins of its citizens. The bearer of the surname Herodes was bloodthirsty, and Pilate was indecisive.
Of course, not without the influence of humor on education Czech surnames. Such surnames tell descendants that their ancestors were real merry fellows. Czechs used surnames to ridicule people from high society. They used their names and titles.
IN modern time you can find such surnames as Tsisarzh, which means - emperor, Veyvoda - duke, Kral - king, Papezh - dad, Prince, Vopat - abbot, Biskup - bishop. Mental and physical qualities of surname bearers also played a significant role in the formation of Czech surnames. There are many examples. this is Geysek - a dandy, and Pletikha - a gossip, and Zagalka - idleness, and Smutny - sad, and Anger - evil, and Beauty - beauty. Interestingly, the surname could be both ironic and express reality.
Real qualities can also be found in the surnames Kulganek - lame, Shilgava - oblique, Bezruch - armless, Shiroki - wide, Mala - small. Also, surnames that were associated with a certain part of the body were especially popular. This is both the Head, which meant the head, and Brzhikhacek - pot-bellied. In many cases, satire was distinguished by its cruelty. In these cases, a part of the animal body was the designation of a certain person..
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One notable feature in the surname area is the feminine ending “OVA”. This extension is automatically added to the surname in Czech if the carrier is a woman. It means that what is married to the lord Novak Last name of the woman Novakova the Bears. Some Czech women find humiliating naming traditions. IH The feminine suffix indicates the type of possession to the person's eye. Frieda Mann is therefore also in Czech for Frieda Mannová. The goal is again and again to eliminate this damaging expansion in the context of homogenization. But there are exceptions, such as Kreychi, where there is no female name suffix.
German influence on Czech family name
German surnames are also quite common in the Czech Republic. The country was 1918 Part of the Austrian Empire. Thus the proportion of Germans in the population was relatively high before the First World War. Some of them were normalized phonetically, about Müller as Miler, Stone Štajn, Smith, converted to Šmid. Some have kept their original german names, z.B. : Berger, Koller, Ebermann, Lendl, Gebauer, Kaberle and VOG. If you know someone, or maybe even yourself, a German is hot, then this indicates German origin or origin.
List of the most common surnames in the Czech Republic, featuring fifty
1. NOVAK
"FREEDOM"
NOVOTNY
DVOŘAK
ČERNY
PROCHAZKA
KUČERA
FUNNY
HORAK
10. KREJČI
MAREC
SUBMISSION
POSPIŠIL
HAJEK
JELINEK
KRAL
RŮŽIČKA
BENEŠ
FIALA
20. SEDLAČEK
DOLEZAL
ZEMAN
KOLAŘ
NĚMEC
NAVRATIL
ČERMAK
URBAN
VANK
BLAZEK
30. KŘIŽ
KRATOCHVIL
KOVAŘ
BARTOS
KOPECKI
VLČEK
POLAC
MUSIL
ŠIMEK
KONEČNY
40. SMALL
ČECH
KADLETS
STĚPANEK
HOLUB
STANK
GOT
SOUKUP
ŠŤASTNY
MAREŠ
50. MORAVETS
A detailed view of the ten most popular Czech surnames
We present here still in more detail the ten most popular. The numbers come from the year 2008 and something so may differ from the current one. But the stock must have an underlying trend.
Novaks are winners
This surname ranks first with almost 70.000 Producers in the Czech Republic. NOVAK means that someone new town or new house built. This name was quite popular after the Thirty Years' War as it moved a lot of people to new places.
Runner-up:’ and thus, goes to the silver family of Svoboda
At 52.000 "Freedom" the play landed on the Silver Podium. Liberty means freedom and stems from many citizens, they were free in the Middle Ages. You were the king directly subordinate and freer than most of the inhabitants of the Czech Republic.
Bronze goes to Novotny
The meaning of Novotny's surname is the same as Nováks. Someone was new to the village, a person who came from another place. There are 49.600 Czech people with this name.
Dvořák grabs a fourth
Also Dvorak was originally free man, owned a farm. People, they were personally free, were perhaps very proud. There are 45.600 Czechs with this surname.
The fifth is the name of the Černy family
One of the oldest families at all, which is based on the person's appearance. Černy means black, so someone with black hair and dark skin appears. These were usually people who were tanned from the sun, Gypsy about. There are this surname 36.000 inhabitants of the Czech Republic.
Procházkas placed 6th
Road means walking and was the meaning of a wandering journeyman in the Middle Ages. Many artisans have left their ancestral home, learn more from a distance, their knowledge to expand, and experience to expand. 32.700 non-combatant Czech citizens have these surnames today. Through his walks, this surname also spreads abroad, about in.
In seventh place: Kuchera
Additional name, He testifies to the property of a person. Kuchera means Locke, usually someone with curly hair. There are about 30.900 people on the territory of the current Czech Republic who bear this surname.
The eighth member of the group - the surname is cheerful
Vesely means, mutatis mutandis, that someone is happy and in good mood. Just a man, That always has a smile on his lips. This name is a little surprise in the Czech name space, Currently there are not many happy people. The distribution will however be quite large and with 26.600 Veselýs on the leaders the Czechs come to play in
eight.
ninth are Horak
Horak originally came from the hills or mountains. Because "Mountain" means hill or mountains, thus Har is the name of the mountaineer's version. Today there are about 25.000 family members with the same name.
On good tithing: Served
To complete the top 10 is one of the few Czech surnames where there is only one form for men and women. Krejci means Schneider, so the first owners were professional tailors. About 24.000 inhabitants of the Czech Republic are called Krejci.
"Second Lieutenant Oak suddenly turned into small child: took Kunert by the hand, examined his palm for a long time, assuring that he would guess the name of his future wife from it.
- What's your last name? Take out a notebook and a pencil from the breast pocket of my uniform. So your last name is Kunert. Come back in a quarter of an hour, and I'll leave you a piece of paper with the name of your future wife.
Having said this, he began to snore, but suddenly woke up and began to scribble something in his notebook, then tore out the scribbled sheets and threw them on the floor. Putting his fingers meaningfully to his lips, he whispered in a tangled tongue:
- Not yet, but in a quarter of an hour ... It's best to look for a piece of paper blindfolded.
Kunert was so stupid that he actually came in a quarter of an hour and, unfolding the paper, read the scribbles of Second Lieutenant Oak: "The name of your future wife is Mrs. Kunertova."
These talented lines were written by Yaroslav Gashek. If you haven't read it, I advise you to read it. Schweik deserves to be read.
Married Czechs have long been amusing the whole world with their surnames. Well, if the husband's surname is Kunert. Then his wife is just Kunertova. And if he is Petrov, then she is Petrov. By the way, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (Czech) is in Albright's homeland...
All sorts of "Petrovs" have long been talking about the fact that the number of linguistic absurdities should have been reduced long ago. Most recently, a group of senators from the Civic Democrats came forward with this initiative. Like, if the husband is Mr. Kunert, then let the wife also be Mrs. Kunert or something ...
However, the Senate did not approve of such free-thinking. No one was very upset, and the news did not reach the front pages of the newspapers. The point is that this attempt female surnames more sane in their sound is far from the first.
For today, the way out for those who do not want to be "-ov" is a change of nationality. So since 2005, Russian women who came to live in the Czech Republic have been gifted with a great state favor. They were allowed not to be Ivanovs, but to live with a “cut off” end.
By the way, the current "family riots" are associated not so much with phonetic absurdity (we have long been accustomed to it), but with the European wave of tolerance. How! If in neighboring countries already with might and main replace the words "mom" and "dad »
into “parent One” and “parent Two”, then why should Czechs so clearly demonstrate their dependence on a male surname ...
But do not think that all Czechs are unanimously trying to emancipate themselves in this way. For example, Elishka Vagnerova, chairman of the Constitutional Commission of the Senate, answered briefly: “Such wishes are the whim of only a few women, no more.” An argument for keeping clean Czech language sounds pretty common too. Yes, and many men who take part in Senate voting also believe that “-ovs” sound familiar and natural to their ears. And if so - why drive a wave?
Eh ... We would have their problems ...
There has never been a mass emigration of Czechs to Russia for national or political reasons, and the isolated Czech colonies in Ukraine probably did not influence Russian onomastics. The few surnames of Czech origin that are found among Russian surnames, apparently, originally come mainly from representatives of three professional groups, where Czechs have always been very well represented: these are musicians, teachers of Latin and Greek, and teachers of gymnastics. The Czech onomastic model follows western style: the patronymic type is used extremely rarely; with the exception of diminutive suffixes, special onomastic suffixes are almost never found. Surnames of Czech origin are less prone to Russification than surnames from other Slavic languages and are generally easy to recognize. In Czech words, including surnames, the stress falls on the first syllable. During Russification, surnames either retain their original stress or change it in accordance with the accent model of the corresponding morphological types in Russian. Like Ukrainian and Belarusian, Czech changed the Slavic g to h. Russified surnames replace this h with r. In the few cases where Czech surnames contain vocal (i.e. syllabic) consonants 1 and r, they are preserved in Russified surnames. The Czech consonant g, as it were, combines two gig sounds, usually transcribed and pronounced as rzh. In Czech, the vowels i and y are spelled differently but pronounced the same (like /). Russified surnames follow either the Czech spelling, transcribing i as and y as ы, or the Czech pronunciation, translating both letters into and. The distinction between long and short vowels characteristic of Czech, of course, cannot be reproduced in Russian. As in other places in this book, the surnames are given in Russified spelling, the original Czech spelling is given in brackets. It should be remembered that the Czech sign of longitude (''charka') does not show the stress (which is always initial), but the longitude of the vowel. Examples: Head (HlavaC 'big-headed') Lunyak (Lufiak 'kite') Napravnik (Napravnik, an old term for the head of the administration, i.e. Lat. ') Cermak (Cermak 'redneck (bird)') Blueberry (Cernik 'black') Shkdrpil (Skorpil 'squabbler, brawler') characteristic feature Czech surnames are diminutives. They mostly end in -ek and -ka. Examples: Vddushek (VoduSek, skills from vodouS 'sandpiper') Voyachek (Voja6ek 'soldier') Jodlichka / Jodlichko (JedliCka 'herringbone') Jelinek / Jollinek (Jelinek 'deer') Nyomechek (N6me6ek 'little German') Paaechek (PaleCek 'finger') Past tense verb forms with -1 are often used in Czech as surnames. When russified, they usually retain the soft character of the final l, for example: When Russified, they often retain the Czech ending, such as: : Short (Kratky 'short')
